Last Updated on seventh March 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
One of essentially the most iconic vistas of San Francisco is undoubtedly that of the Painted Ladies, a row of seven pastel hued Queen Anne Victorian homes within the Alamo Square Park neighborhood within the Fillmore part of San Francisco. Here’s the best way to go to the Painted Ladies of San Francisco, in addition to what to know earlier than you go.
What is a Painted Lady?
Painted Ladies isn’t just the time period for the row of Victorian House sin SF. Instead, Painted Ladies is a normal time period in American structure which denotes a row of Victorian or Edwardian homes which have been repainted (normally publish Sixties) in three or extra shiny colors with loads of gildings.
It’s value noting that, whereas the Victorians weren’t ones to draw back from portray buildings in shiny colors, the tones used on Painted Ladies at the moment wouldn’t have been used traditionally.
The time period was really first coined within the e-book by Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen, Painted Ladies: San Francisco’s Resplendent Victorians, which was revealed in 1978.
There are literally Painted Ladies in different US cities, together with St. Louis, Baltimore, and Cincinnati. However, these of SF stay essentially the most well-known.
How did the Painted Ladies come about?
Between 1849 and 1915, it’s thought that as much as 48,000 homes had been constructed in San Francisco within the Victorian type. They had been painted in all types of various colors, although in the course of the World Wars many had been painted in battleship grey.
It wasn’t till 1963 when the San Francisco artist Butch Kardum started portray his home in shiny colors that others quickly adopted go well with, resulting in the brightly colored Painted Ladies look that so many individuals take pleasure in to this present day. The development was often known as the “Colorist Movement.”
Though there are dozens of Victorian and Edwardian homes nonetheless standing in SF at the moment, when referring to the Painted Ladies, most individuals are speaking in regards to the row of seven homes at 710–720 Steiner Street, simply throughout from Alamo Square Park, on the japanese aspect of the inexperienced area.
These homes are generally fondly known as ‘Postcard Row’ or the ‘Seven Sisters’ on account of their beautiful look. Another space the place you’ll be able to take pleasure in lovely Painted Ladies is in Haight-Ashbury. One explicit group of Victorian properties on this district which is beginning to turn into well-known is the 4 seasons.
How to see the Painted Ladies in San Francisco
The best option to go to the Painted Ladies (you’ll be able to solely see their exteriors) is by heading to Alamo Square Park. It’s a well-liked spot for picnics in the summertime months and you may take pleasure in your snacks whereas overlooking the homes, with an extra view of town past.
The finest time to go to is undoubtedly sundown when the attractive colours of the sky are mirrored on the equally lovely gingerbread gabling, a number of balconies, overhanging eaves, detailed brackets, and stained glass paneling of the properties.
You may also e-book a hop-on-hop-off tour bus as a number of firms embody passing the Painted Ladies as a part of their loop. Alternatively, one other option to see the outside of the Painted Ladies is by reserving onto a Movie Sights Tour like this one.
For extra inspiration about visiting San Francisco, take a look at our guides on the finest issues to do in San Francisco and our solutions for the best way to spend 3 days in San Francisco.
The Painted Ladies in Popular Culture
If you wish to see their interiors, you’ll have to do this by watching YouTube or by watching a film (except you observe my tip under). Indeed, so emblematic of town are these seven homes that they’ve been utilized in numerous movie productions through the years (properly over 70).
One explicit movie that actually options one of many Painted Ladies is the 1978 model of the Bodysnatchers, which options 720 Steiner avenue. The movie showcases a variety of the home’s interiors, thus lifting the lid on an inside that’s in any other case little seen.
Other movies which characteristic the Painted Ladies of SF embody:
- The Five-Year Engagement (2012)
- Shut Up Little Man (2011)
- Bicentennial Man (1999)
- So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993)
- “Full House” (TV present: 1987–1995)
- The Woman in Red (1984)
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
- The Conversation (1974)
- Dirty Harry (1971)
Does anybody reside within the Painted Ladies San Francisco?
Yes, the entire Victorian homes are privately owned and it’s not potential to enter most of them. Currently not one of the Painted Ladies are used as vacationer lodging.
Every few years, one of many homes finally ends up on the market and these historic landmarks are so iconic that it usually makes the information when one is put up on the market!
Visiting the within of the Painted Ladies
As of 2021, it has been potential to enter the within of the blue painted home, i.e. No. 712 Steiner Street. The guided tour is by home-owner George Horsfall and permits guests to see the highest three flooring of the house. You can discover extra particulars on Instagram @bluepaintedladyhousetour.
Tours price a steered donation of $20, with funds raised going to charities, funds, and causes. Alternatively, you’ll be able to e-book a go to by way of Airbnb expertise. Check extra data right here.